Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack

The line at Prince’s Hot Chicken can be longer at 10 p.m. than at lunchtime. Owner André Prince Jeffries calls it a “late night” place. They don’t advertise and haven’t in the past eighteen years, but word of mouth has allowed customers to keep up with Prince’s as they’ve moved locations throughout the city. Loyal followers of this fiery fried goodness can order the chicken in three flavors—mild, medium, or hot—and it’s served on grease-soaked white bread with sliced pickles on top. Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell prefers the hot variety. Whether you prefer hot or mild, be prepared to wait up to half an hour for your fare because the chicken isn’t dropped into the skillet until it’s ordered. And it’s not for those with a sensitive stomach, Prince’s warns. “It’s a 24-hour chicken,” according to Jeffries. And it sure is addictive.

Date of interview:

July 7, 2006

Interviewer:

Joe York

Photographer:

Jennifer Justus, 2012

More women eat it hot than men, and I don’t know why that it is but they do. So maybe that’s something the scientists can look into—how women can tolerate that heat more so than men. ~ André Prince Jeffries